Shape-control and characterization of iron nanocrystals prepared via a one-step solvothermal method

In the present work, iron nanocubes, nanorods and nanowires are successfully synthesized by one-step reduction approach in a solvothermal environment. It is analyzed that the iron nanocubes, nanorods and nanowires belong to the pure body-centered cubic structure of α-Fe. Effects of additive sort and the amount of Anionic Gemini surfactant 12-4-12 on the morphology evolution of Fe are discussed based on SEM and TEM images. The possible formation mechanisms of iron nanocubes, nanorods and nanowires are proposed. The Anionic Gemini surfactant 12-4-12 regarded as template plays an important role in the formation of iron nanocrystals. The microwave electromagnetic (EM) (80 wt% Fe) and calculated microwave-absorbing (0.5 mm thickness) properties in 2-18 GHz of the iron nanocubes, nanorods and nanowires are studied systematically. Results show that iron nanowires are superior to nanorods and nanocubes, which indicates the potential to be a super-thin microwave absorber.